The Chase is Just Around the Corner

The racers and teams in NASCAR are still trying to solidify their position in the upcoming twelve-man Chase and Juan Montoya and Kasey Kahne managed to finish high enough in Monday’s Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 to put them in a good position to make it to the Chase. Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers finished good enough to-put themselves in position to make it to the Chase if they continue to run fast and finish good. There unfortunately has to be a few frustrating days at every race during the season for every driver and it turned out to be one of those days for David Reutimann. He started the race thinking that a top ten finish was definitely a possibility but things just didn’t work out for him as his day came apart with 25 laps remaining in the race.

Tony Stewart drives his race car into the garage

The standings shifted a bit with this race, Montoya moved up two spots and sits eighth in the standings after this strong showing and he has a 169-point cushion between him and the racer in thirteenth position, Kyle Busch. He’s now poised just eleven points behind seventh place racer Kasey Kahne who has been steady all year and has finished in the top ten in five of his last six starts since his victory in Sonoma. Montoya actually looked to be in position at one point during the race to overtake the eventual winner Denny Hamlin, but in the end he seemed to pull-back a bit and might have decided to go for the points rather than taking a chance at losing it all. Making the Chase isn’t all about victories as Kyle Busch and his three victories will tell you. Busch is currently 150 points short of making the Chase despite his wins and if you asked him he might even trade a win or two for a position in the Chase. Making the Chase is also about running consistently, racing and driving within the limits of your ability and car, and understanding the track and traffic around you.

If you fail to make the Chase only thing they’ll remember about the number of victories you achieve during the year will be that you didn’t actually make the Chase. It’s vitally important for a racer to make it to the Chase and it’s one of the main goals of the year, other than winning the championship.

“Image: Zuma Press”